Son John Hartzell (1844-1925) was born in on Oct. 3, 1844 near Kingwood, Somerset County. He was a boy when he and his parents relocated to Big Tree, Greene County, PA. Among his school chums was Frederick Wise, who would remain a friend for life. In about 1858, he moved across the state line into the home of Adolphus and Mary Burley in Rock Lick, Marshall County, to work as a farm hand. 

During the Civil War, when he was age 18, Union Army recruiters came to the Burley house, on or about on Aug. 20, 1862, John agreed to enlist. He was assigned to the 12th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. Cousin Samuel "Freeman" Younkin and Alexander White were among his colleagues in the 12th West Virginia. John stood five feet, nine inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and light hair, and, weighing 145 lbs., was considered a tout, hearty man. 

In December 1862, while guarding the railroad at Buckhannon and New Creek, WV, he went on a raid to the town of Monterey. Upon arriving back at camp, he disclosed that he was unable to relieve his bladder and bowels. "This laid him out on the broad of his back," recalled fellow soldier Josiah Van Scyoc. He was unsure as the cause, later saying it was perhaps due to lying in the snow, or wearing his cartridge belt too loose. 

One physician recommended tea made of pumpkin and watermelon seeds, which helped a bit. Regimental surgeons Frederick H. Patton and O'Brien visited his tent to administer treatment. At first, after using a catheter to withdraw his urine, with John in excruciating pain and held down by a comrade, they believed him to be stricken with kidney stones. He was transported by rail to an army hospital in Cumberland, MD on the last day of 1862. 

He apparently recovered and rejoined his regiment. In March 1863, he was stationed with his unit at Winchester, VA and in mid-June, just a few weeks before the Battle of Gettysburg, was captured in the Second Battle of Winchester. John and other prisoners of war were sent to Libby Prison and Belle Isle Prison in Richmond and held until they were exchanged a month later in July 1863. 

From there they were sent to Annapolis, MD and then sent home on furlough. From there, they reported back for duty at Camp Chase, OH, and ordered to report to their regiment at Harpers Ferry, WV. They stayed in the Shenandoah Valley until about October 1864. and may have gone from there to Cumberland. At some point, his mother borrowed clothing from a neighbor so that she could travel to visit him. 

Immediately upon return home, he began working for neighbor Adolphus Hurley, where he must have spent time with his cousin and of Hurley's other laborers, Martha Whipkey (1846-1882). On Nov. 10, 1866, when he was age 22, he was united in marriage with the 20-year-old Martha. Justice of the peace Jackson Hinerman officiated at the wedding held in nearby Greene County, PA. 

They produced these known children -- Andrew D. Hartzell, Sarah Hartzell, Samuel Hartzell, Sheridan Hartzell, Maggie B. Hartzell, Charles Milton Hartzell, Marcell Hartzell Sr., James Hartzell and Garfield Hartzell. 

They moved in about 1867 to the community of Rock Lick, Marshall County, where they were tenant farmers and neighbors with Joseph Ross. After seven years in Rock Lick, the family relocated across the state line to a farm in Morford, Greene County, PA, also known as Sugar Grove and with a post office of Big Tree. He worked at times for his wife's relative James Whipkey of McCracken, Greene County, complaining of back and urination pain. One physician diagnosed cystitis of the kidney. When spending time with his brother in law Joseph Ross, and unable to urinate, Ross would brew him some tea made of dandelions and peach bark. He also used patent medicines, turpentine and nitre (potassium nitrate) to seek relief. At times he was simply unable to work. 

In about 1873, they relocated again back to Rock Lick, and in 1880 moved back to Big Tree in the Aleppo area. When the federal census was enumerated in 1880, the family made their living as farmers in Aleppo Township, Greene County. Sadly, Martha died on July 5, 1882, in Big Tree, at the age of 36. John outlived his wife by four decades. After a decade as a widower, his inner ear became inflamed, and he was rendered deaf thereafter. An observer in 1897 said that John was "a poor man and by his careful management has a small farm, which is and has been worked by his boys, he overseeing the same." They rarely went to pick up mail at the post office. He remained in Aleppo until about 1907, when he established a new residence in Sycamore near Waynesburg, Greene County. 

In later years, he applied for and was awarded a military pension of $18 monthly as compensation for his wartime service. [Invalid App. #759.366 - Cert. #546.385] Serving as a witness to his declaration for pension in 1912 was his cousin, justice of the peace Jefferson Younken, attested by Belle Younken and others. Also coming to his assistance with testimony on his behalf were friends Andrew Knapp, Josiah Van Scyoc (pronounced "Van Sihawk"), brothers in law Joseph Ross and Isaac Polen, relative Alexander Whipkey, cousin by marriage George W. Fuller, George W. Harbison, Joseph T. Francis, Adolphus and Mary M. Burley and Frederick Wise.

Senility set in about 1902. He lost sight in his right eye in 1912 and in 1915 the vision in his left eye as well. As his health declined, he was cared for by his son and daughter in law Garfield and Nellie. Nellie wrote in 1920 that he was "practicable blind. So nearly so he can't wait on him self at the table nor be trusted a lone outside of the house. He is confined to the house all the time unless he has an assistant."

Suffering from a case of bronchial pneumonia, John passed away at the age of 80 on March 3, 1925. Burial was in Slonaker Cemetery, with an obituary printed in the Waynesburg Republican, stating that he was survived by 20 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. J.A. Hartzell of Waynesburg was the official informant for the death certificate. [View grave] In 1925, the year he died, John was named in a list of 12th West Virginia Infantry soldiers in Scott Powell's book History of Marshall County, W.Va.

John and Martha's genealogy was researched circa 1978 by Mrs. John Malson of Redwood Valley, CA. Her notes are on deposit at the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County.

Son Sheridan Hartzell (1867-1928) was born on Oct. 8, 1867 in Aleppo Township, Greene County. As a young man, Sheridan joined the Church of the Brethren and remained a member for life. He also labored in a local mill. When he was 35 years of age, on June 21, 1903, Sheridan married 32-year-old Essie Bungard (or "Burgard") (1871-1934), a native of West Virginia and the daughter of Isaac and Esther (Knapp) Bungard who had relocated to Aleppo. Rev. J.M. Murray officiated. The couple were about five years apart in their respective ages. They produced one known son, Arthur Leo Hartzell. The family made their home for nearly 22 years in West Waynesburg, Franklin Township, Greene County. There, Sheridan was "well known and highly respected," said the Waynesburg Republican. "For a time he was employed in the tin mill in West Waynesburg, but for several years has been a member of the maintenance force of the State Highway department of Greene county." For 15 years, Sheridan served as treasurer of the Sunday School of West Waynesburg Mission. Essie was a member of the Quiet Dell Brethren Church. At the age of 61, suffering from a spinal cord infection, he died at home on Nov. 15, 1928. He was placed into repose in the Rosemont Cemetery in Rogersville. Essie outlived her husband by six years. Now widowed, she moved in with her married son Arthur and his wife Daisy in Conger, Morris Township, Washington County, and is shown in their household in the 1930 federal census. At the age of 62, she became paralyzed with a stroke and died on March 27, 1934. Rev. Thomas Presnell of Aleppo preached the funeral sermon held at her son's home, with her remains placed for eternity beside her husband's.

• Grandson Arthur Leo Hartzell (1907- ? ) was born in about 1907. In about 1929 or early '30, he married 17-year-old Daisy (1913- ? ). They were farmers when the 1930 census was taken and provided a home that year for Arthur's widowed mother. They made their residence in 1934 in Dunns Station, Greene County.

Son Marcellus "Marcell" Hartzell (1872- ? ) was born on Oct. 8, 1872. He married a distant cousin, Martha Agnes Finnegan (1880-1947), daughter of John and Eliza (Younken) Finnegan. See their biography for more.

Son James A. Hartzell (1875-1967) was born on April 25, 1875 in Aleppo Township, Greene County or in Rocklick, Marshall County, WV. "As a young man," said the Waynesburg Republican, he "farmed and raised livestock in western Greene County. he resided most of his life at Waynesburg and was employed for a number of years by the Peoples Natural Gas Company, and later by the Pennsylvania Department of Highways." James married Pearl Hewitt ( ? -1961). Their children were Fred Hartzell, Faye Lightner and Ruth Everett. They resided at 329 Nazer Street in Waynesburg and attended the Waynesburg Church of the Nazarene. Sadly, Pearl died on June 28, 1961. James survived her by six years and toward the end went to live in the Curry Memorial Home. He died there at the age of 91 on Jan. 29, 1967. Burial was in Rosemont Cemetery. At the time, son Fred lived in Madison, OH; daughter Faye Lightner and her husband Charles in Waynesburg; and daughter Ruth and her spouse Paul Everett in Orlando, FL.

Son  Garfield A. Hartzell (1881-1940) was born on Jan. 16, 1881 in Aleppo Township. He appears to have been named for the popular United States President-elect James A Garfield, who only served in office for six months until his tragic assassination and death in September 1881. In 1916, at the age of 35, Garfield was united in marriage with Nellie B. Throckmorton ( ? - ? ). They were farmers for half of a century, lived in R.D. 1 Sycamore/Nineveh, Greene County and were members of the Hopewell Methodist Church. They had three known children -- William H. Hartzell, Maggie Belle Thomas and John Alfred Hartzell. Sadly, their three-day old infant son John Alfred died on July 1, 1920 from convulsions probably caused by bleeding on the brain. John was riddled with multiple stomach ulcers which bled frequently. Toward the end of his life he resided in Sycamore, Greene County. At the age of 59, the ulcers hemorrhaged and he was hospitalized in Greene County Memorial Hospital. Unable to recover, he died on June 13, 1940. Burial was in Hopewell Cemetery in Greene County, joining his infant son there in repose. An obituary was published in the Waynesburg Democrat.

Son Andrew D. Hartzell ( ? - ? ) apparently was not recorded in the family Bible.

Daughter Sarah Hartzell ( ? - ? ) apparently was not recorded in the family Bible.

Son Samuel Hartzell ( ? - ? ) apparently was not recorded in the family Bible.

~ Daughter Minerva (Hartzell) Ross ~

Daughter Joanna Hartzell (1850- ? ) was born in about September 1850 in Turkeyfoot Township.

Son Marcellus Hartzell (1854- ? ) was born in 1854. At age 25, in 1870, he was unmarried and dwelled at home in Aleppo Township. He has not yet been located on the federal census of 1880.

~ Son Silas Hartzell ~